Air-gun.



A. A. KARGHER. AIR GUN.

APPLIGATION FILED OGT 6,1911.

Patented June 30, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

A. A. KAROHER.

AIR GUN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1911. LRQLGQS H b Qv m nuv N E A. A. KARGHER.

AIR GUN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 1911.

Patented June 30, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

nnrrsn erm ne PATENT orator.

ARTHUR ADELBERT KARCHER, 01E" Silt. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN TOOL-WORKS,-OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, A CORPOR'ATIQN OF MICHIGAN.

era-eon.

it,ilil,698.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 111111165 3Q 1914;.

Application filed @ctober 6, ion. Serial No. 53,279..

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. KAROFER, a citizen ofthe United States of America, and resident of St. Joseph, Berrien county, Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Air-Guns, of whlch the following is a specification.

My invention relates to air guns in general, but more particularly to those comprls ing inner and outer barrels, the inner barrel being removable from the muzzle of. the outer barrel, and in which the compression of the air is produced by a spring-actuated plunger which is drawn back into firing position. by a hand lever.

Generally stated; the object out my invention is to provide an improved, comparatively simple and'hi hly etficient air gun of the foregoing genera character.

Special objects are to provide improved and novel means for effecting the removal of the inner barrel from the outer barrel; to provide a sight for the muzzle end of the outer barrel, which sight serves also as a latch or locking device for holding the inner barrel in place; to provide an improved arrangement for mounting the trigger in position Where the rear end of the outer barrel is secured to the stock of the gun; to-provide an improved and more efiicient connection between the plunger and the hand lever, whereby the power of the gun is materially increased without increasing the size thereof; to provide an improved and more efficient construction of the inner barrel and the compression chamber; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the magazine and the means for feeding the bullets to the inner barrel; to provide an improved device for yieldingly holding the bullet in the inner barrel, and in position for tiring, whereby the bullet will not drop out or roll toward the muzzle or the gun before the trigger is pulled; and to provide oer-- tain details and features of improvement and combinations tending to increase the tit? general eiiiciency and serviceability or an air gun of this particular character;

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters'hereinai 'ter set forth and claimed.

l n the accompanying drawingsFignre 1 is a side elevation of an air gun embodying the principles of my invention. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections of the intermediate and forward end portions of the inner and outer barrels of the gun. Fig. dis a longitudinal section of the rear port-ion of the gun, showing the outer barrel and the compression chamber in section, and showing certain portions broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section or the part shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the plunger drawn back for firing. 7 is a transverse section on line 7-7 in Fig. t. Fig. 8 is a detail longitudinal section of the forward end of the plunger. Fig. 9 is a transverse section on line 9-9 in Fig. 2. Fig. '10 is a transverse section on line 1O-1() in Fig. 3. Fig. 11 -is a view similar to Fig. 3, except that'it shows the inner barrel in longitudinal section, instead of side elevation. Fig. 12 is a detail of the trigger and the mounting therefor, showing the trigger in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 13 is a transverse section on line 13-13 in Fig.

4. Fig. 14 is a perspective of the combined sight and latch for holding the inner barrel in place. Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the guide for feeding the bullets to the inner barrel. Fig. 16 is a perspective of the hand lever and link by which said lever is connected with the plunger. Fig. 17 is an enlarged section on line'l71'7 in 15. Fig. i8 is a perspective of the closure for the opening through which the bullets enter the magazine or space bet-ween the inner and outer barrels. Fig. 19 is a transverse section on line 1919 in Fig. 4.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises an outer sheet metal barrelA, preterably octagonal in cross section, having the rear end thereof provided with ears a that embrace the stock B of the gun. A bolt a is inserted through the said ears and stock "and serves to removably hold the gun barrel and stock together. The said barrel is,

as stated, made of sheet. metal, the joint be tween the meeting edges thereof extending along the lower side of the barrel, and the barrel tapering gradually toward the muzzle thereof.

The compression chamber G is preferably compression chamber has its rear end pro vided, in the upper wall thereof, with a 1 for the trigger D, the said trigger being made of sheet metal bent into shape to provide a pair of ears or cheeks (Z that embrace the said plate or mounting and engage the said bolt or rivet. The rear edge of the plate 0 is held firmly against the vertical surface of the end of the gun stock, and with this construction the trigger has a firm and very strong mounting, which mounting is simple and comparatively inexpensive to construct. The said trigger has a lower projecting finger piece d, and its portions which embrace the plate 0 are provided with slots d that engage a bolt or rivet Z extending through theplate 0, whereby. the forward and back movements of the trigger are limited. A spring d is suitably bent around the bolt or rivet d and engages the trigger to hold the same in normal position. For this purpose the plate 0 is provided with a notch or seat 0 that receives the said spring and bolt or rivet d whereby the spring is fastened in place by forcing it into the said seat or notch, as shown more clearly in Fig. 12.

The plunger mechanism inclosed in said compression chamber consists of a piece of strap metal E doubled or bent uponitself to provide a long Ushaped member with a loop 6 at its rear end, and with shoulders 6' immediately in front of said loop, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The end portions of the member E are notched or reduced in width to permit them to enter the notches e in the metal washer e and the ends of said member E are then embedded in the leather washer 6 whereby the parts are held firmly together. Another leather washer e is arranged upon the outer surface of the washer e and the three washers are held together by rivets re. A metal tube 6 extends through the said washers, being riveted over against the metal washer e to prevent it from pulling out.. v Immediately in front of the washer e the tube a is provided with a slot or lateral opening 6 whereby the air enters the tube e from the compression chamber and escapes at the forward end of said tube, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The abutment 6 slides back and forth on the straight parallel portions of the member E, bemg preferably made of sheet vmetal bent into shape to provide flanges 6 that have openings for the said parallel portions of the member E, whereby the said abutment may slide back and forth thereon. A coil spring a encircles'the member E, and is held under nected at 6 with the upper end of the hand lever 6 which latter is pivoted at 6 in the manner shown. This lever has two portions e" that are rigidly secured to the handle portion of the lever, and which embrace the lower end of the link e whereby a strong and rigid connection is provided between the hand lever and the said link. The pivot 6 of the said hand lever extends through the ears C of the compression chamber, which ears embrace the said hand lever, and through the. similar downwardly extending ears or checks a of the outer barrel, in the manner shown more clearly in Fig. 7. As shown, the trigger works-on a hollow rivet or sleeve 0 which is rigid with the compression chamber, and which receives the bolt 6 by-which the outer barrel is clamped to the compression chamber. By removing the bolt 6 the outer barrel can be removed, but the hand lever 6 remains fulcrumed or pivoted on the compression chamber, by reason of the fact that the hollow rivets c constitutes the real pivot or fulcrum for the said lever. At its forward end, the compression chamber C is provided with an internal washer or wall 0 through which the tube 6' extends and 'moves back and forth, this washer or wall 0 serving like a stuiiing box to prevent the escape of compressed air. To hold this washer c in place, the compression chamber C is swaged inwardly at 0 whereby an inner annular. bead is formed which presses into the Said washer to hold it against displacement and make a tight joint. A metal washer 0 is inserted in the outer end of the compression chamber, and then the edges of the end of said 'chamber are turned into form a shoulder 0 that engages the Washer 0 tohold the latter in'placc, the said inturned edges and metal washer being preferably secured together, whereby a very strong and perfectly tight construction is provided for the end of the compression chamber. 7

The inner or true barrel F consists of a small tube arranged within the outer or falsebarrel A, said inner barrel having its rear end held in position to receive the for ward end of the tube when the gun is discharged. Forthis purpose the said inner barrel is provided with a sheet metal portioncf having a flange f that firmly engages the interior of the outer or false barrel. -The sheet metal portion f is provided;v

lib

, amines ends with inwardly bent portions P, which latter are directly over the opening i \in the top of the inner barrel. Thus the inner through the side of the barrel, and which is held yieldingly in place by a spring f secured to the outer side of one of the parallel portions as by forming aloop fthrough which the spring is removably inserted.

- Thus the catch i will hold the bullet in till place to be discharged, but does not interfere with the releasing of the bullet under the force of the compressed air. ward end of the inner barrel is provided with a washer which fits inside of the muzzle of the outer or false barrel A, and which is held ,in place by riveting over the outer end of the tubular inner barrel. A piece of sheet metal f is wrapped around the inner barrel and brought upwardly to provide two parallel portions f rwhich portions are spaced a art to receive the sight 7" at the muzz e end of the gun. The forward edges of the sheet metal portions i are preferably soldered or brazed to the washer i and a rivet f is inserted through the rear upper corners of the porwhich rivet is engaged by a notch tions f p f in the rear end of the said sight. The

forward end of the said sight is provided "Wl'tll a hook f that engages through an opening 1 in the top of the outer barrel, and which encircles a small portion f of said barrel between the said portion f and the slot f" in which the sight is adapted-to move up and down to release and lock the inner barrel in place, As shown, in Figs. 3 and 11 it will be seen that the sight engages the rivet f and prevents the inner or true barrel from moving endwise in the direction of the muzzle or the guni However, when the true barrel is moved slightly toward the compression chamber, by pressing on the outer face or the washer the rivet f is thereby disengaged from the said sight 1, permitting the latter to be swung upward about its forward end. Then the inner barrel can be dropped or pulled out of the muzzle of theouter barrel, when it is desired to load the inner barrel with a dart or projectile which cannot be inserted in the usual manner.

repair. @rdinary'bulletsare loaded through the opening i in the lower wall of the outer barrel, which opening is controlled by The for Also, in this way the inner barrel can be removed for cleaning or a sliding closure j, which latter has a tongue F that engages the edge of the opening to limit its sliding movement in this direction. The said closure is provided witha handle f that slides in the slot f" that joins the opening f, whereby the closure canslide back and forth, and can be removed by pressing-the tongue f inward until the handle 7 comes opposite the round opening f thus permitting the handle to move into the barrel. Then the closure'can be dropped out of the end of the barrel, and this closure, being slidable back and forth in this manner, can be used as a means for pushing the washer f out of the end of the barrel, after the sight has been released from the rivet f, in the manner explained. Or, if the inner barrel should stick, it can be fired out by operating the gun. To push the inner barrel backward in the outer barrel, it is only necessary to retract the plunger slightly, so as to allow the rear end of the inner barrel F to slide through the plug in the end of the compres sion chamber, it being observed that the rear end of the inner barrel is thus adapted to engage and bear against the Washer 6 when the gun is in normal condition. When the plunger is drawn back, then the inner barrel can move backward until the rear end of the portion ,7 engages the washer 0 which movement is just. enough to disengage the inner barrel iirom the pivoted or swinging sight at the muzzle of the gun. Thus means are provided for eilecting a removal of the inner barrel, which means are exposed to the hand of the operator, but not connected with the inner barrel-that is to say, not fixed to the inner barrel to serve as a handle by which the inner barrel may be withdrawn. Furthermore, and with the construction shown, it will be seen that the link 0 increases the throw of the plunger, and makes it possible to give the gun more power without increasing the size thereof. Thus a very satisfactory and powerful gun is provided, and for any given size of gun the power and eiliciency are considerably greater than heretofore.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An air gun provided with inner and outer barrels, and a front sight extending through the outer barrel to removably lock the inner barrel against outward movement and against rotation, adapted to remain-on the outer barrel when the inner barrel is removed.

2. An air gun provided with inner and outer barrels, a sight "on the outer barrel for locking the inner barrel in place, and

:mean's permitting backward movement of ltlll the outer barrel, and an engaging portion on the inner barrel, said outer barrel having a slot for said sight, and the sight having a notch in the rear end thereof for receiving said engaging portion.

4. An air gun provided with inner and .outer barrels, and means for locking the inner barrel in place, and whereby said inner or true barrel is removable without rotation thereof, only by first moving it backward from normal position in the outer barrel, said inner barrel when thus rearwardly disand for feeding the bullets to the inner barrel, a pin acting through the Side of the inner barrel to holdthe bullet in place, the end of said pin engaging the bullet, a leaf spring controlling said pin, said pin being removably inserted in one end of said spring, and means for removably supporting the other end of said spring.

7. An air gun provided with a tubular compression chamber, a plug in the end of said chamber, the Walls of the chamber being swaged in to form a bead for locking the plug in place, a metal washer placed .over the plug, the edges of the said walls being turned in against said Washer, and a' tube reciprocating in said plug and Washer. 9

8. An air gun provided with a tubular compression chamber, means for plugging the end of said chamber, a tube reciprocating in said means, a plunger headfixed to the rear end. of said tuble, the tube being laterally apertured immediately in front of said plunger head, a strip of metal bent double and fastened at its ends to said plunger head, a trigger for engaging the loop formed at the rear end portion of said strip, an abutment sliding onthe parallel portions of said strip, aspring between said abutment and plunger head, and means for retracting the'plunger head to cause the said loop to engage the trigger, and for compressing said spring.

9. An air gun provided with a compressioncha'mber, a plunger, a hand lever for drawing the plunger back, a fixed axis or fulcrum for said lever, a spring, a sliding abutment, and a link connecting the lever with said abutment, adapted to travel back and forth in said chamber, said plunger having meansfor guiding said abutment, and said link being of a length to dropbelow the base of said chamber to increase the throw of said plunger by said lever, whereby the spring is compressed by the drawing back of said lever to normal position, said link disposed in position to utilize the tension of said spring for holding said lever in normal position.

10. An air gun provided with a compres sion chamber, a plunger having two parallel portions, a link working between said portions, adapted to travel back and forth in the said chamber, an abutment sliding on said port-ions, to which said link is pivoted, a.spring, and a hand lever having its end pivotally connected with said link, said lever iaving a fixed axis or fulcrum, and said link being of a length to drop below the base of said chamber to increase the throw of said plunger by said lever, whereby the spring is compressed by the drawing back ,of said lever to normal position, said link disposed in position to utilize the tension of said spring for holding said lever in normalyposition.

11. An air gun provided with a tubular compression chamber, a plug for the end of said chamber, a plunger having a tube extending through said plug, and a movable inner barrel extending through said plug,

- outside of said tube, engaging said plunger,

slot, a trigger embracing said plate, and a trigger axis extending through said plate, the said axis extending. also through the sides of the compression chamber to hold the plate in position.

13. An air gun provided with a plate having a-notch in the front edge thereof, a trigger, a spring for holding the trigger in normal position, and means extending through'the plate to limit the swing of said. trigger, said spring having a bent portion held in said notch by said means.

14. An air gun provided with inner and outer barrels, and a front sight locking the inner barrel against rotation in the outer barrel, mounted on;the outer barrel.

15. An air gun provided with an outer barrel, a removable and non-rotatable inner barrel, a sight mounted on the outer barrel, and means on the inner barrel for engaging the saidsight to lock the'finner barrelin place.

16. In an air rifle having compression aromasabout an axis extendingl transversely of the said barrels, serving to old the inner barrel in operative position, adapted to operate independently of said mechanism.

17. In an airrifle having compression mechanism an outer or false barrel, an inner or true barrel mounted for movement relative to said .outer barrel, an element pivoted on the outer barreland having suitable engagement with the inner barrel, movable about an axis extending transversely of the said barrels, serving to hold the inner barrel barrel having movement relative to said outer barrel, said slot exposing the inner barrel when open, and means for connecting said element with said inner barrel.

19. An air rifle comprising an outer or false barrel provided. with a longitudinal slot, an element pivoted on said outer barrel, closing said slot when in normal position, an inner or true barrel having movement relative to said outer barrel, means for connecting said elementwith said inner barrel, said means including a sheet metal member having upstanding sides which embrace said inner barrel, and a pin extending through said side walls, engaging said element.

20. An air rifle comprising an outer or false barrel provided with a longitudinalslot, an element pivoted on said outer bar- 1 rel, closing said slot when in normal position, an inner or true barrel having movement relative to sald outer barrel, and means for connecting said element with said. inner barrel, the pivotal axis of said element being dispose transversely at one end of said slot.

21. An air rifle comprising an outer or false barrel provided with a longitudinal slot, an element pivoted on said outer barrel, closing said slot when in normal position, an inner or true-barrel having movement relative to said outer barrel, and means for connecting said element with said inner barrel, said element and means beiin disposed one within and between the si es of the other.

22. an air rifie comprising a plunger having parallel portions, a spring on said portions, an abutment sliding on said portions, a link embraced by said abutment, pivoted thereto, adapted to swing between said parallel portions, a lever pivotally, connected with said link, said link being subject to endwise compression between said spring and lever, and a trigger for catching and holding the rear end of said parallel portions, the said spring being compressed by the drawing back ofsaid lever to normal position. v p

23. An air rifle comprising a plunger having parallel portions, a spring on said portions, an abutment sliding on said portions, a link embraced by said abutment, pivoted thereto, a lever pivotally connected with said link, said link being subject to endwise compression between said spring and lever, and a trigger for catching and holding the rear end of said parallel portions, the said spring being compressed by the drawing back of said lever to normal position, said abutment havin a slot in the bottom thereof in which said link works up and down, whereby the said link is embraced by said abutment.

24:. An air riflecomprising a plunger, having parallel portions, a spring on saidportions, an abutment sliding on said portions, a link embraced by said abutment, pivoted thereto, a lever pivotally connected with said link, and a trigger for catching and holding the rear end of said parallel portions, whereby the said spring is compressed by the drawing back of said lever to normal position, said spring being normally under s ight compression to hold sald lever in normal positlon.

. .25. An air rifle comprising a plunger, a

spectively on the abutment and lever, by

means of which link the saidspring holds the lever in normal-position, and a trigger for catching and holdingsaid plunger, the spring being compressed by the drawing back of said lever to normal position, and, said link being subject to endwise compres sion between said spring and lever.

26. An air rifle comprising a plunger, a spring on said plunger, an abutment sliding on said plungena pivoted hand lever, a link having its front and rear ends pivoted respectively on the abutment and lever, and a trigger for catching and holding said plunger, whereby the spring is compressed by the drawing back of said lever to normal position, the pivotal point between the said link and lever being below a line passing,

through the other pivot of the link and the axis of the lever, when the said lever is in normal position, and the said spring being normally under slight compression, whereby the said. lever is held in normal position.

27. An air gun provided with air compression mechanism including a spring, means operated by said spring for expelling the air, a hand lever pivoted between its ends for compressing the spring, by movement of said lever to normal position, and means whereby the said lever is held in normal position by the tension of said spring exerted on the forward end thereof, said lever having a stationary fulcrum upon which it works in compressing said spring.

.28. An air gun provided with air compression mechanism including a spring, means operated b said spring for expelling the air, a hand lever pivoted between its ends for compressing the spring, by movement of said lever to normal position, and means whereby the said lever is held in normal positionby the tension of said spring exerted on the forward end-thereof, when said spring is com-- pressedfor operating the gun, said lever having a stationary fulcrum upon which it works in compressingsaid spring.

29. An air gun provided with air compression mechanism including a spring, means operated by said spring for expelling the air, a hand lever plvoted between its ends for compressing the spring, by movement of said lever to normal position, and

means whereby the said lever is held in normal position by the tension of said spring exerted on the forward end thereof, when the spring is compressed, and also when the same is expanded, said lever having a'stationary fulcrum upon which it works in compressing said spring.

30. An air gun having inner and outer barrels, the outer barrel having a lateral slot for exposing the inner barrel, the inner barrel being movable, and an element pivoted on the outer barrel and working through said slot to control the inner barrel, the axis of said element extending transversely of.

said barrels.

31. An air gun comprising a hand lever, pivoted between its ends, a spring, and means for compressing said spring, when the handle of the lever is swung backward toward the rear end of the gun, including an element extending through the spring, said lever forming a fixed axis, and being held in normal position by the tension of said spring exerted downward on theforward end thereon.

32. An air gun comprising an outer barrel,

a spring insaid barrel, a movable element within said barrel, subject to the tension of said spring exerted rearward thereon, a hand lever for manipulating said element, said spring being compressed when the handle of said lever is swung toward the rear end of the gun, and said element having a toggle joint connection with saidv lever, movable past the center to enable said spring a spring,

33. An air gun comprising an outer barrel,

a spring' in said barrel, a movable element within said barrel, subject to the tension of said spring exerted rearward thereon, a hand lever for manipulating said element, said sprin being compressed when the handle of said l ever is swung toward the rear end of the gun, and saidelement having .a toggle oint connection with saldlever, movable past the center to enable said spring to yieldingly hold said lever in. the normal position thereof, said element comprising a tube for the discharge of the air.

34. An air gun comprising an-outer barrel, a movable element within said barrel, 'subjectto'the tension of said spring, a hand lever for manipulating said element, and said element having a toggle joint connection withsaid lever, movable past the center to enable said spring to yieldingly hold said lever in oneposition thereon, said element comprising a tube disposed longitudinally withinsaid outer barrel, movable e'ndwise by the operationof said toggle joint, and means for expelling the air through said tube, to discharge the gun. 35. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, a spring, a movable element within said barrel. subject to the tension of said spring,

a hand lever for manipulating said element,

- said tube in normal position, within the said outer barrel, and tine-ans for expelling the air through said element to discharge the gun.

36. An air gun comprising an outer barrel, amovable element having a passage for the discharge of the air, disposed within said barrel, a hand lever for manipulating said element, a pivotal connection between said lever and element, and a spring which yieldingly holds said lever in normal position, disposed within the bore of said outer barrel, said pivotal connection being 'movable forward and downward by said lever to com.- press the spring.

Signed by this 2nd day of October 1911. ARTHUR ADELBERT KARCIIER.

Witnesses:

v JOSEPH R. COLLIER, Jr., FREMONT EVANS.

me at St. Joseph, Michigan, 

